Gakhars

The Gakhar are a Punjabi clan found predominantly in the Jhelum District and Gujranwala District in Punjab province of Pakistan.[1] The Gakhars now predominantly follow Islam after conversion from Hinduism during the Islamic rule of north India.[2][3][4]

Medieval history

The Gakhars had engaged in a long-running struggle for sovereignty over the Salt Range.[5] After the arrival of Muhammad of Ghor to medieval India, the Gakhars converted from Hinduism to Islam.[2]

The history of this region (the Salt Range) from the thirteenth century onward had been a sickening record of wars between various dominant landowning and ruling clans of Punjabi Muslims including the Janjuas, Gakhars, Thathals and Bhattis for political ascendancy.[6][7]

  • Kamal Khan Ghakkar defeats Sultan Adam Ghakkar
    Kamal Khan Ghakkar defeats Sultan Adam Ghakkar
  • Rajah Ali Gour, a Ghakkar chief
    Rajah Ali Gour, a Ghakkar chief

See also

References
  1. Van Donzel, E. J., ed. (1994). Islamic Desk Reference. BRILL. p. 106. ISBN 978-9-00409-738-4.
  2. Gandhi, Surjit Singh (2007). History of Sikh Gurus Retold: 1469-1606 C.E. Atlantic Publishers. p. 3. ISBN 978-81-269-0857-8. The story of most of the Gakhars is that they conquered Kashmir and ruled in that region for many generations but were eventually driven back to Kabul whence they entered the Punjab. They professed the Hindu faith and were converted to Islam, probably after the Ghori rule.
  3. Singha, Atara (1976). Socio-cultural Impact of Islam on India. Panjab University. p. 46. After this period, we do not hear of any Hindu Gakhars or Khokhars, for during the next two or three centuries they had all come to accept Islam.
  4. Chandra, Satish (2006). Medieval India: From Sultanat to the Mughals. Vol. 2 (Revised, 2nd ed.). Har-Anand Publications. p. 45. ISBN 978-8-12411-066-9.
  5. Journal of the Pakistan Historical Society, Volume 54, Issues 1-2. Pakistan Historical Society. 2006.
  6. Bakshi, S. R. (1995). Advanced History of Medieval India. Anmol Publ. p. 142. ISBN 9788174880284.
  7. Rajput Gotain

Further reading
  • Gakkhar, A. S Bazmee Ansari, in Encyclopedia of Islam, 2nd ed.,Edited by J.H.Kramers et al., E.J Brill, Leiden, pp. 972–74.
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